The shelter-in-place order that has transformed life in the Bay Area is reportedly going to be extended through April.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that an announcement extending the order could come as early as Monday.
The initial three-week order that forbids all but "essential" outings was set to expire April 7
Full details of the extended shelter in place order could be announced Monday or Tuesday, the Chronicle reported.
This past weekend, Gov. Gavin Newsom doubled down when asked what more Californians can do to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
“You have no more power and potency, in terms of an answer to that question, than physically distancing yourself from other people,” said Newsom, “those stay-at-home orders are real and they are operational in the state of California in every part of our state. Please continue to take them seriously.”
Newsom is expected to make a major announcement at noon today about a surge in health care workers. The announcement would come as the Bay Area hits 1,900 cases and 48 deaths. Santa Clara County remains the hardest hit with nearly 650 cases and 25 deaths. San Francisco has 340 cases and five deaths.
The likely announcement that residents must stay home for several more weeks comes as new data shows that the Bay Area is having success keeping their distance.
The New York-based tech company Unacast released what it calls the “Social Distancing Scorecard.” The report utilizes user cell phone location data to show how well residents are heeding to the shelter in place order. The data shows that Californians have cut their distance traveled by 48% from late February to March 22.
A breakdown of counties shows people in poor, rural areas are less likely to shelter in place as compared to wealthier urban ones. Los Angeles, Santa Clara, and Alameda counties cut travel by at least half, Napa County cut down travel by 74%.
Meanwhile, a nationwide strike of thousands of Instacart workers is planned for today. The strike comes even after the San Francisco-based grocery delivery company instituted enhanced safety measures and a new tip-setting for its workers who are demanding hazard pay.